Another round of Best of Weekly Music Shows is here! It’s been quite an eventful week with hot debuts, comebacks, and exciting first wins. I.O.I. had their official stage debut to the delight of Produce 101 fans. After two years of hiatus, Akdong Musician returned with their effervescent brand of K-pop. Crush also made a long-awaited reappearance, melting hearts with his smooth voice. I was hoping a certain acronym group would set things on fire this past week, but I can wait a few more days for that.
VIXX earned another victory for “Dynamite” on SBS The Show, but a lot of Carats and Onces had much to celebrate as Seventeen and Twice joined the first win club. Seventeen received theirs on MBC Show Champion as Twice swept up trophies on Mnet M! Countdown, KBS Music Bank, and SBS Inkigayo. Congratulations to everybody!
It was tough picking my favorite performances, but here are the ones that I liked the most. Please do not consider my choices as an oversight of your bias group’s talents if they weren’t chosen. Just share their awesome stages in the comments below!
MIXX‘s “Oh Ma Mind”, MBC Show! Music Core, May 7, 2016
I love rookies, especially when they come out of the gate doing something unexpected! Don’t be fooled by the sweet faces of this quartet. Their sultry voices are reminiscent of ’90s R&B, even though they look like the girls-next-door. I appreciate that they didn’t match their appearance with their sound, throwing me for a loop when I heard them sing. I want more of this, please!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qjtp52FjpE
Lovelyz‘s “Destiny”, SBS Inkigayo, May 8, 2016
Never underestimate the power of styling and staging. Stage presence is everything, which includes how you enter it. The subdued opening set the mood for a very dramatic interpretation of “Destiny”. Wearing all black just does something to the brain that draws focus to the performance. I also like that the cameras caught flattering angles of their choreography, enhancing the loveliness of this song.
History‘s “Queen”, Arirang Simply K-pop, May 6, 2016
As I said, don’t overlook the power of styling. This jam could’ve been easily ruined with bad choreography and terrible clothing, but it wasn’t. That’s because whoever is in charge knows what they’re doing. This group oozes with sex appeal thanks to their suits, loose ties, and glasses. The slick choreography also does marvelous things to me, and the song sounds great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9HG_aY-UMU
Akdong Musician’s “Re-bye”, SBS Inkigayo, May 8, 2016
Sibling collaborations are a rarity in entertainment, so I enjoy watching these two interact with the most adorable chemistry. It almost convinces me that I could get along better with my brother, but alas, we don’t sing as well as this duo. The stage production is top notch, as expected for any artist under YG Entertainment. The transition between costumes and setting at the beginning of the song added a theatrical magic to the performance. Their facial expressions only made it better.
April‘s “Jelly”, MBC Show Champion, May 4, 2016
Some Fineapples may disagree with me, but this should’ve been April’s title song all along. We’re entering summer, which means we need tunes to match the season. The time for cutesy love songs is over; it’s time to party! Again, we have another example of a group that I’d normally overlook if they didn’t promote an extra song that displayed their additional talents. What the **** is their agency doing by not pushing for more of this?! I prefer this style a lot more than the initial concept their company marketed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFE0FVA3chk
Crush’s “Woo Ah”, SBS Inkigayo, May 8, 2016
As sexy as Crush sounds when singing, his stage presence leaves much to be desired lately. I don’t know if it’s connected to a rumored rift between him and a former collaborator, but something has been off with him. It could also be that his lack of charisma was usually countered by a stage partner, which is why this performance works on so many levels. The backup dancers, staging, and camera angles all work together to enhance the song. Other soloists should definitely take notes if they want to pull off a sensual set flawlessly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y4FWCeiZ8U
Up10tion‘s “Attention”, KBS Music Bank, May 6, 2016
Like April, I didn’t pay much attention — ironic, I know — to this group because of how they were initially marketed. They weren’t awful; they simply didn’t stand out from others. That changed in this performance thanks to the intricate choreography. Every time I watch it, I catch something else that fascinates me. The group could gain more fans and momentum if they continue going down this path.
Readers, who caught your eye this week? Let us know in the comments below!
